No hassle heritage

https://youtu.be/2WGqloTO9JQ

Some educational projects.

In the one corner are the experts, historians mostly, in their own world. In the other corner is a notoriously difficult audience. Yes, they are lovely kids, but the classroom is full, their schedule is full, their attention span is not necessarily short, but  a lot of things compete for it.

The teacher is under pressure as well: he or she needs to get everything done, language and math first, needs to manage the class and needs to learn new methods and new software daily.

There’s two ways this design works.

First, the content. This educational material is layered. Each task, each chapter, each lesson has a minimum version. Together with the client we discovered what the basis lessons are. Initiation and exploitation of the subject, a visit to a real site, research and a presentation. These blocks make sure the students come into contact with local heritage.

The digital lessons themselves are just the skeleton. The teacher is free to attach anything to it, delivered to him or her in a manual.

Second, the software.

This is web. No proprietary software or installation needed. It runs on old computers, on quite old browsers. The text and images are tailor-made for rickety beamers, screens and digiboards, fitted in classrooms where curtains are open and lights are on.

The interface is simple. Landing page, click a lesson, click through the lesson, return. Simple interaction, built on a framework that can be used to create any lesson.

That’s what it is all about. Fit a visit to a real heritage site into the weekly school schedule, and make sure the children are prepared for it, and have a task to really engage with what they’ve seen.

Make the teacher want to do it: easy downloads, clear manuals, simple interface. No hassle.

And beautiful historic sites.